St Philip’s Mission Church began in about 1872 amongst Dutch speaking families which had moved from the Western Cape to Port Elizabeth.
The first church began in a wool store in Strand Street, and then moved to the Mechanic’s Institute in Donkin Street. Soon a lack of space took them to St Paul’s Boys’ Schoolroom. They became the responsibility of the Rector of St Paul’s, and the ministry prospered under a Mr PR Mollett, teacher and Catechist, (who later became St Philip’s first Rector), and led to an application for land from the Municipal Council. This was granted under a special Deed of Transfer dated 1883, which vested the property in the congregation under three Trustees, one of whom was the Mayor of Port Elizabeth, for the time being, and the other two elected by the congregants. This Deed was instrumental in discouraging expropriation during the apartheid era.
The foundation stone of the present church in St Philip’s Street, Richmond Hill was laid in May 1883 and the church dedicated in 1884. The congregation has seen many ups and downs, losing numerous parishioners to other parishes with the Group Areas forced removal of families from Central and South End. A number, however, persisted in worshipping at St Philip’s even though the Diocesan authorities expressed the view that its closing was inevitable and the last Rector appointed was in 1960. It does seem that God indeed had a purpose in forestalling the complete uprooting of this vine.
It remains to be seen whether the present congregation can enter into the opportunities and fresh transforming vision the Lord has been setting before St Philip’s. Many are praying that once again it will fulfil its calling to be a ‘missionary church’. This desire may be fulfilled as the the Reverend Dave Doveton was recently instituted as Rector of St. Philip’s Anglican Church by Bishop Bethlehem Nopece, the Bishop of the Diocese of Port Elizabeth.
Doveton assumed the reins of responsibility from Reverend David Grobbelaar (1999 to 2011) and the two Rectors before that – Reverend David MacGregor (1999 to 2011) and Reverend Barry Sendall (1993 to 1994).
Bishop Bethlehem Nopece, the Bishop of the Diocese of Port Elizabeth and Reverend Dave Doveton.
Related: The Anglican Diocese in Port Elizabeth.
